Keto Telugu foods

Keto foods are popular not only for those trying to lose weight but also those that have diabetes, or other medical problems or just as a healthier lifestyle choice.

Gongura chutney

See the following pages to get an understanding of the ketogenic diet and keto Indian foods.

Keto Telugu cuisine encompasses the vibrant flavors of the Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as well as regions across South India and the global Telugu diaspora. Renowned for its rich and spicy culinary heritage, Telugu cuisine offers a diverse and flavorful range of dishes. However, the traditional reliance on rice and rice flour can lead to elevated glycemic load, potentially increasing the risk of health issues like insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.

Chicken curry

Cauliflower Rice: A Keto Saviour

To mitigate the glycemic impact of traditional Telugu foods while preserving their essence, many enthusiasts turn to cauliflower rice as a keto-friendly alternative to regular rice. A typical Telugu meal consists of rice or roti paired with a flavorful curry made from vegetables, pulses, meat, fish, or dairy. It's customary to mix rice with buttermilk or curd, a combination known as perugannam. By substituting regular rice with cauliflower rice, it becomes possible to enjoy Telugu cuisine while significantly reducing overall carbohydrate intake.

Ridge gourd

Brown Rice: A Better Option?

Some individuals opt for brown rice as an alternative to traditional white rice. While brown rice contains slightly fewer net carbohydrates than white rice (approximately 40.5 grams per cup compared to 43.5 grams), it may not be suitable for strict ketogenic diets. Given that the daily limit for net carbs on a keto diet is typically around 30 grams, with a per-serving limit of approximately 10 grams, both brown and white rice should be consumed sparingly.

Gutti vankaya curry

List of Low-Carb Telugu Dishes

Telugu cuisine offers a wide array of dishes, and many can be adapted to suit a keto diet. Here's a list of low-carb Telugu dishes and keto-friendly alternatives:

Mutton chops

Seafood and Poultry

• Kodikura (Chicken Curry): A flavorful Telugu chicken curry that can be made keto-friendly by using coconut oil and avoiding high-carb ingredients.
• Chepala Pulusu (Fish Curry): A tangy fish curry that can be adapted by reducing the use of tamarind or opting for low-carb alternatives.
• Kodigudla Pulusu (Egg Curry): Enjoy egg curry without starch or sugar for a keto-friendly option.

Pesarattu with ginger pickel

Vegetarian Delights

• Panasa Puttu Koora (Andhra Jackfruit Curry): A popular Andhra curry made with jackfruit, marinated in fiery masalas. Be cautious with cashews to keep carbs in check.
• Gutti Vankaya Kura (Andhra Eggplant Curry): This traditional brinjal curry can be keto-adapted with a low-carb stuffing.
• Pesarattu (Green Gram Dosa): A native food of Andhra Pradesh, pesarattu is a green gram dosa rich in protein, perfect for a keto snack or breakfast.

Unique Keto Creations

• Keto Idli: Replace traditional rice with almond flour and black lentils (de-husked) to make keto-friendly idlis.
• Dahi Vada: Create vadas without rice flour for a keto-friendly version.
• Hyderabadi Keto Biryani: Prepare biryani using cauliflower rice to reduce carbohydrates.
• Hyderabadi Marag: A hearty soup made with tender mutton, this recipe can be keto-adapted by excluding high-carb ingredients.

Keto-Friendly Staples

• Cauliflower Rice Biryani: A traditional biryani prepared with cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
• Rasam: A thin South Indian soup traditionally served with rice. Opt for cauliflower rice or consume it as a soup without added sugar.
• Pachadi: A versatile Telugu side dish made from ingredients like lemons, mangoes, garlic, and other vegetables or meats.

More Keto Options

• Bhindi (Okra): Enjoy this masala dish of exotic spices, coconut, and garlic while staying keto.
• Papadum: A crunchy keto-friendly snack.
• Talakaya Kura: A dish made from the head of fish, goat, or sheep.

Cauliflower

Additional Keto Telugu Delights

• Cauliflower Rice Upma
• Pathar-ka-Gosht
• Chicken Fry
• Tala Huwa Gosht (Mutton Fry)
• Dondakaya Fry: Made with a small Indian cucumber known as donda kayalu.
• Ulavacharu: A thick soup made from horse gram, a legume rich in nutrition and spices, often enjoyed with meegada, the fat from the top of curd.
• Chicken Pakoda
• Gongura Pappu
• Gongura Chicken
• Gongura Mutton
• Gongura Pacchadi: A staple in Andhra cuisine.
• Eggplant Curry
• Bendakaya Kura: Okra curry.
• Thotakura Curry: Prepared with dal or as a stir-fry.
• Ooru Kodi Pulusu: Telangana and Andhra's flavorful country chicken curry.
• Golichina Mamsam: A spicy mutton fry.
• Ankapur Chicken: A fiery country chicken curry.
• Boti Curry
• Kaalla Kura (Paya)

Various types of lentils ('pappulu') and millets for sale in a market

• Challa Charu or Perugu Charu: A dish prepared by tempering buttermilk.
• Pappu Charu: A flavorful lentil-based soup.

Other Indian foods

• Tandoori chicken, Chicken tikka, Paneer

Pappukura

Starchy Telugu foods list to avoid on keto diet

• White rice
• Brown rice
• Raagi sangati
• Uttapam
• Upma
• Kairi ka do pyaza
• Kulfa gosht
• Dosa
• Masala dosa
• Mirchi ka salan
• Nihari
• Osmania Biscuit
• Pashti
• Paya (food)
• Pongal (dish)
• Poornalu
• Pulihora
• Puri (food)
• Qubani-ka-Meetha
• Sakinalu
• Sarva Pindi
• Sheer khurma
• Tamate ka kut

Moong-dal pulusu made at home in Andhra Pradesh

Traditional foods - use sparingly

Can be a bit starchy - use caution

• Jonna annam
• Makka gatka
• Ambali
• Sajja rotti -
• Makka rotti -
• SarvaPindi -
• Sabhudhana upma
• Antuvuls also called as Bajji - (Pulusu with vegetables)
• Kadambam
• Makka Gudalu
• Bebarla Gudallu
• Sala Pachi pulusu.
• Pachi Pulusu
• Mokkajonna garelu

Tandoori Chicken recipe

Other Indian low carb foods

• Mutton seekh kebab
• Hard-boiled eggs and scrambled eggs
• Mint chutney
• Fried paneer
• Shredded chicken breast
• Masala omelette

Masala egg omelette

• Paneer curry plain or with cheese called palak paneer
• Parboiled cauliflower
• Butter chicken
• Murg makhani
• Chicken sausages
• Chicken malai tikka
• Protein shakes and protein bars (bars tend to be starchier than shakes)
• Shami kebab
• Greek yogurt
• Chicken broth
• Stuffed peppers stuffed with paneer (cottage cheese)
• Tandoori chicken
• Cheese rollups
• Spinach pie

Sample Meal Plans

Day 1

• Breakfast: Pesarattu with coconut chutney (low-carb version using green gram).
• Lunch: Cauliflower rice served with Kodikura (chicken curry) and a side of Gongura pacchadi.
• Snack: Spiced Masala omelette.
• Dinner: Hyderabadi keto biryani with Rasam soup.

Day 2

• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs cooked in ghee with a side of avocado slices.
• Lunch: Gutti vankaya kura with Cauliflower rice and Perugu charu.
• Snack: Roasted paneer cubes with mint chutney.
• Dinner: Talakaya kura (goat head curry) with a fresh salad.

Day 3

• Breakfast: Keto-friendly Idli made with almond flour served with coconut chutney.
• Lunch: Chepala pulusu (fish curry) paired with steamed zucchini noodles.
• Snack: Fried Chicken pakoda (batter made with almond flour).
• Dinner: Hyderabadi marag (mutton soup) with a side of sautéed spinach.

Recipes with images

▼ Indian

  Beetroot vada (recipe)

  Black curry powder (recipe)

  Calcutta medley (recipe)

  Chicken wing 65 (recipe)

  Chutney raita (recipe)

  Egg pakora (recipe)

  Garam masala spice blend (recipe)

  Ghee usli ghee (recipe)

  Haldi doodh (recipe)

  Indian

  Indian seer fish fry (recipe)

  Instant garam masala (recipe)

  Madras egg curry (recipe)

  Plantain curry (recipe)

  Rogan josh curry paste (recipe)

  Simple cabbage poriyal (recipe)

  Spicy tandoori mix (recipe)

  Steamed mint fish (recipe)

  Tandoori quesadillas (recipe)

  Tandoori spice blend (recipe)

  Tandoori-style shrimp (recipe)

  Yummy roasted prawns (recipe)

External links

• Low carb Indian recipes
• 10 South Indian keto recipes
• Keto South Indian recipes
• 7 day keto diet plan